Changes

The '''Obama Administration''' is the executive branch of the federal government under [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]  [[Presidents of the United States|President]] [[Barack Hussein Obama|Barack Obama]] and Vice President [[Joe Biden]]. It began on January 20, 2009 for a term of four years, and then  for a second four year term.  [[File:Obama deficits 2009-2010.JPG|thumb|330px]] Under Obama's stewardship the United States has suffered the largest [[Federal budget deficit|deficit]]s<ref>[http://www.cbo.gov/publication/41400?index=10708 Monthly Budget Review, November 6, 2009] [[Congressional Budget Office]]</ref><ref>[http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/118xx/doc11873/NovemberMBR.pdf Monthly Budget Review, November 4, 2010] [[Congressional Budget Office]]</ref> in history and a credit downgrade from the rating agency Standard & Poor.<ref>[http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/04/18/the-sp-outlook-and-obama/ The S&P Outlook and Obama] [[Commentary]]</ref>  [[Poverty]]<ref>[http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2009/pov09fig04.pdf PDF] [[U.S. Census Bureau]]</ref> increased to levels not seen in 50 years.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2010-09-16-poverty-rate-income-numbers_N.htm Number of people in poverty reaches highest level in 51 years] [[USA Today]]</ref> When his [[economic stimulus]] program was adopted unemployment rose and stagnated in the 10% range,<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704476104575439172480870774.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Jobless Claims Jump in New Sign Recovery Is Sputtering] [[Wall Street Journal]]</ref> leaving tens of millions without [[hope]] of finding a job.<ref>[http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS11300000&years_option=specific_years&include_graphs=true&to_month=1&from_month=2 United States Department of Labor], [[United States Department of Labor|Bureau of Labor Statistics]]. Data extracted on: July 19, 2010 (4:31:11 PM).</ref> During what the [[White House]] billed as [[Recovery Summer]], one half million workers per week continued losing their jobs. His signature legislative achievement, [[ObamaCare]], the federal courts have found to be [[unconstitutional]]<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-13/u-s-health-care-law-requirement-thrown-out-by-judge.html Health-Care Law Struck Down Over Insurance Mandate] [[Bloomberg News]]</ref> and is credited as a major cause of uncertainty, high [[unemployment]],<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33220 Obamacare: Unemployment You Can Believe In] [[Human Events]]</ref> lagging job creation,<ref>[http://blog.heritage.org/2010/08/05/it%E2%80%99s-official-medicare%E2%80%99s-finances-shadowed-by-uncertainty/ It’s Official: Medicare’s Finances Shadowed by Uncertainty] [[Heritage Foundation]]</ref> and risk of a credit default crisis.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/28/AR2010032802353.html With health bill, Obama has sown the seeds of a budget crisis] [[Washington Post]]</ref><ref>[http://www.thestreet.com/story/10703361/1/cramer-obamacare-will-topple-the-market.html Cramer: Obamacare Will Topple the Market] [[The Street]]</ref> Since the rejection of his party's agenda in the [[2010 Midterm elections]], Obama has continued [[class warfare]] as a major theme of his second two years and cornerstone of his successful re-election campaign. He then turned to deficit reduction, immigration reform and gun control as major policy initiatives in his second term.

The '''Obama Administration''' is the executive branch of the federal government under [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]  [[Presidents of the United States|President]] [[Barack Hussein Obama|Barack Obama]] and Vice President [[Joe Biden]]. It began on January 20, 2009 for a term of four years, and then  for a second four-year term.  [[File:Obama deficits 2009-2010.JPG|thumb|330px]] Under Obama's stewardship the United States has suffered the largest [[Federal budget deficit|deficit]]s<ref>[http://www.cbo.gov/publication/41400?index=10708 Monthly Budget Review, November 6, 2009] [[Congressional Budget Office]]</ref><ref>[http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/118xx/doc11873/NovemberMBR.pdf Monthly Budget Review, November 4, 2010] [[Congressional Budget Office]]</ref> in history and a credit downgrade from the rating agency Standard & Poor.<ref>[http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/04/18/the-sp-outlook-and-obama/ The S&P Outlook and Obama] [[Commentary]]</ref>  [[Poverty]]<ref>[http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2009/pov09fig04.pdf PDF] [[U.S. Census Bureau]]</ref> increased to levels not seen in 50 years.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2010-09-16-poverty-rate-income-numbers_N.htm Number of people in poverty reaches highest level in 51 years] [[USA Today]]</ref> When his [[economic stimulus]] program was adopted unemployment rose and stagnated in the 10% range,<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704476104575439172480870774.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Jobless Claims Jump in New Sign Recovery Is Sputtering] [[Wall Street Journal]]</ref> leaving tens of millions without [[hope]] of finding a job.<ref>[http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS11300000&years_option=specific_years&include_graphs=true&to_month=1&from_month=2 United States Department of Labor], [[United States Department of Labor|Bureau of Labor Statistics]]. Data extracted on: July 19, 2010 (4:31:11 PM).</ref> During what the [[White House]] billed as [[Recovery Summer]], one half million workers per week continued losing their jobs. His signature legislative achievement, [[ObamaCare]], the federal courts have found to be [[unconstitutional]]<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-13/u-s-health-care-law-requirement-thrown-out-by-judge.html Health-Care Law Struck Down Over Insurance Mandate] [[Bloomberg News]]</ref> and is credited as a major cause of uncertainty, high [[unemployment]],<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33220 Obamacare: Unemployment You Can Believe In] [[Human Events]]</ref> lagging job creation,<ref>[http://blog.heritage.org/2010/08/05/it%E2%80%99s-official-medicare%E2%80%99s-finances-shadowed-by-uncertainty/ It’s Official: Medicare’s Finances Shadowed by Uncertainty] [[Heritage Foundation]]</ref> and risk of a credit default crisis.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/28/AR2010032802353.html With health bill, Obama has sown the seeds of a budget crisis] [[Washington Post]]</ref><ref>[http://www.thestreet.com/story/10703361/1/cramer-obamacare-will-topple-the-market.html Cramer: Obamacare Will Topple the Market] [[The Street]]</ref> Since the rejection of his party's agenda in the [[2010 Midterm elections]], Obama has continued [[class warfare]] as a major theme of his second two years and cornerstone of his successful re-election campaign. He then turned to deficit reduction, immigration reform and gun control as major policy initiatives in his second term.

While 'turning the page' on the War on Terror, the rate of terrorist attacks in the United States has gone from three under President George W. Bush's  eight years in office ([[9/11]] attacks on the [[World Trade Center|World Trade Towers]], the 9/11 attack on [[Pentagon]] and the 9/11 hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania) <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335500,00.html Foiled Terror Plots Against America Since 9/11] [[Fox News]]</ref> to at least four per year<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-detroit-airline26-2009dec26,0,7673563,full.story Jet passengers overpower would-be bomber] [[Los Angeles Times]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/us/05explode.html?_r=1&ref=us Bomb Injures Arkansas Doctor] [[The New York Times]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/25/2009-05-25_small_bomb_goes_off_outside_upper_east_side_starbucks.html Small Bomb Goes Off Outside Upper East Side Starbucks] [[New York Daily News]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/us/04recruit.html?_r=1&ref=us Suspect in Soldier Attack Was Once Detained in Yemen ] [[The New York Times]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/us/politics/20hood.html  Lawmakers Call Ft. Hood Shootings ‘Terrorism’ ] [[The New York Times]]</ref> and the Bipartisan Policy Center's National Security Preparedness Group reports [[Al-Qaeda]] leadership has become increasingly ‘Americanized’.<ref>[http://bipartisanpolicy.org/press-release/bipartisan-policy-center-report-finds-homegrown-terrorism-presents-key/ Bipartisan Policy Center Report Finds Homegrown Terrorism Presents Key Challenge for the United States] [[Bipartisan Policy Center]]</ref>

While 'turning the page' on the War on Terror, the rate of terrorist attacks in the United States has gone from three under President George W. Bush's  eight years in office ([[9/11]] attacks on the [[World Trade Center|World Trade Towers]], the 9/11 attack on [[Pentagon]] and the 9/11 hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania) <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335500,00.html Foiled Terror Plots Against America Since 9/11] [[Fox News]]</ref> to at least four per year<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-detroit-airline26-2009dec26,0,7673563,full.story Jet passengers overpower would-be bomber] [[Los Angeles Times]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/us/05explode.html?_r=1&ref=us Bomb Injures Arkansas Doctor] [[The New York Times]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/25/2009-05-25_small_bomb_goes_off_outside_upper_east_side_starbucks.html Small Bomb Goes Off Outside Upper East Side Starbucks] [[New York Daily News]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/us/04recruit.html?_r=1&ref=us Suspect in Soldier Attack Was Once Detained in Yemen ] [[The New York Times]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/us/politics/20hood.html  Lawmakers Call Ft. Hood Shootings ‘Terrorism’ ] [[The New York Times]]</ref> and the Bipartisan Policy Center's National Security Preparedness Group reports [[Al-Qaeda]] leadership has become increasingly ‘Americanized’.<ref>[http://bipartisanpolicy.org/press-release/bipartisan-policy-center-report-finds-homegrown-terrorism-presents-key/ Bipartisan Policy Center Report Finds Homegrown Terrorism Presents Key Challenge for the United States] [[Bipartisan Policy Center]]</ref>

Following the [[Recession of 2008]] Obama declared that failure to pass his [[Economic stimulus]]  would turn a "crisis into a catastrophe," and promised [[Unemployment]] would not rise above 7.8%.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1910208,00.html Obama's Stimulus Plan: Failing by Its Own Measure,]  Stephen Gandel, ''[[Time magazine]]'',  July 14, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31165217/ Obama promises economic relief this summer], [[MSNBC|MSNBC/AP]], 6/8/2009.</ref> The House on Jan. 28 passed a stimulus package‎ of $819 billion in [[Direct spending#New spending|new spending]] and tax increases, despite unanimous Republican opposition. A revised bill passed the Senate with three Republican votes. A compromise bill known as the "[[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]" was passed, providing for $789 billion in new spending and stimulus.

Following the [[Recession of 2008]] Obama declared that failure to pass his [[Economic stimulus]]  would turn a "crisis into a catastrophe," and promised [[Unemployment]] would not rise above 7.8%.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1910208,00.html Obama's Stimulus Plan: Failing by Its Own Measure,]  Stephen Gandel, ''[[Time magazine]]'',  July 14, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31165217/ Obama promises economic relief this summer], [[MSNBC|MSNBC/AP]], 6/8/2009.</ref> The House on Jan. 28 passed a stimulus package‎ of $819 billion in [[Direct spending#New spending|new spending]] and tax increases, despite unanimous Republican opposition. A revised bill passed the Senate with three Republican votes. A compromise bill known as the "[[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]" was passed, providing for $789 billion in new spending and stimulus.

Detroit spread gloom on Feb. 17 as GM starkly warned of impending bankruptcy unless it gets more aid. By August, both Chrysler and GM had entered bankruptcy, and come out again in much smaller size, as they closed a fourth of their dealerships, slashed wage rates, and repaid creditors with 29 cents on the dollar.  The government gave Chrysler away free to Fiat of Italy, which acquired ownership without investing any money. Meanwhile the part makers, which employ more workers than the Big Three automakers, verged on disaster and begged for billions.  The "[[cash for clunkers]]" proved to be a boondoggle for the rich at a cost of $3 billion to the Treasury.

Detroit spread gloom on Feb. 17 as GM starkly warned of impending bankruptcy unless it gets more aid. By August, both Chrysler and GM had entered bankruptcy, and come out again in much smaller size, as they closed a fourth of their dealerships, slashed wage rates, and repaid creditors with 29 cents on the dollar.  The government gave Chrysler away free to Fiat of Italy, which acquired ownership without investing any money. Meanwhile, the part makers, which employ more workers than the Big Three automakers, verged on disaster and begged for billions.  The "[[cash for clunkers]]" proved to be a boondoggle for the rich at a cost of $3 billion to the Treasury.

===Obama policies problematic, say economists and public===

===Obama policies problematic, say economists and public===

The Federal Reserve in June said conditions deteriorated in many regions of the country, with commercial real estate and labor markets in deep trouble.  The Fed did not forecast a significant boost in economic activity in 2009. Despite costly government efforts to encourage borrowing, it remained very difficult for consumers and businesses to obtain loans.

The Federal Reserve in June said conditions deteriorated in many regions of the country, with commercial real estate and labor markets in deep trouble.  The Fed did not forecast a significant boost in economic activity in 2009. Despite costly government efforts to encourage borrowing, it remained very difficult for consumers and businesses to obtain loans.

The General Motors bailout, which Obama promised would make taxpayers money, resulted in an $11 billion loss;<ref>[http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/taxpayers-to-lose-at-least-11-billion-on-general-motors-bailout/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OTB+%28Outside+The+Beltway+%7C+OTB%29 Taxpayers To Lose At Least $11 Billion On General Motors Bailout] [[Outside The Beltway]]</ref> however Democratic Congressional seats in the areas affected that recieved the aid, remained Democratic in the [[2010 Midterm elections]] despite the persistent high unemployment among workers who were not directly employed in the auto industry in those same districts.

The General Motors bailout, which Obama promised would make taxpayers money, resulted in an $11 billion loss;<ref>[http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/taxpayers-to-lose-at-least-11-billion-on-general-motors-bailout/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OTB+%28Outside+The+Beltway+%7C+OTB%29 Taxpayers To Lose At Least $11 Billion On General Motors Bailout] [[Outside The Beltway]]</ref> however Democratic Congressional seats in the areas affected that received the aid, remained Democratic in the [[2010 Midterm elections]] despite the persistent high unemployment among workers who were not directly employed in the auto industry in those same districts.

===Education===

===Education===

American policy was increasing set by Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]], originally appointed by President  Bush in 2006 and reappointed by  Obama in 2009. Gates fired the commander General David McKiernan in May, 2009, replacing him with McChrystal. Gates insisted on dropping the old strategy of hunting down insurgents and instead adopting a '''counterinsurgency''' strategy that focused on protecting local civilians and training Afghan soldiers and police to take over the job. Gates convinced Obama, who ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in Dec. 2009, with a deadline of 18 months, at which time a transition to Afghan responsibility would begin.  Liberals thought Obama and Gates were making a big mistake—heading into another quagmire like Vietnam. However liberal Democrats in Congress will not try to block Obama's proposals, at least at this point.   

American policy was increasing set by Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]], originally appointed by President  Bush in 2006 and reappointed by  Obama in 2009. Gates fired the commander General David McKiernan in May, 2009, replacing him with McChrystal. Gates insisted on dropping the old strategy of hunting down insurgents and instead adopting a '''counterinsurgency''' strategy that focused on protecting local civilians and training Afghan soldiers and police to take over the job. Gates convinced Obama, who ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in Dec. 2009, with a deadline of 18 months, at which time a transition to Afghan responsibility would begin.  Liberals thought Obama and Gates were making a big mistake—heading into another quagmire like Vietnam. However liberal Democrats in Congress will not try to block Obama's proposals, at least at this point.   

Democrats are split not in two but in three: a small number of hawks who agree with his decision; a large number of doves who oppose it; and a sizable group that is uneasy with the Obama surge but willing to loyally support his decision.  Most conservatives, on the other hand, see victory in Afghanistan as a vital national goal and approve the new strategy, while voicing objections to the 18 month deadline.  Polls in mid-December show Republicans overwhelmingly supported the war, with 71% saying the country was doing the right thing compared to 21% who said it was not. By contrast, Democrats were evenly split, with 47% supporting the war and 46% opposing it.

Democrats are split not in two but in three: a small number of hawks who agree with his decision; a large number of doves who oppose it; and a sizable group that is uneasy with the Obama surge but willing to loyally support his decision.  Most conservatives, on the other hand, see victory in Afghanistan as a vital national goal and approve the new strategy, while voicing objections to the 18-month deadline.  Polls in mid-December show Republicans overwhelmingly supported the war, with 71% saying the country was doing the right thing compared to 21% who said it was not. By contrast, Democrats were evenly split, with 47% supporting the war and 46% opposing it.

Each 1000 American soldiers in Afghanistan cost a billion dollars a year; Speaker Pelosi has indicated that there will be no tax surcharge to pay for the operation.

Each 1000 American soldiers in Afghanistan cost a billion dollars a year; Speaker Pelosi has indicated that there will be no tax surcharge to pay for the operation.